US 11,940,083 B2
Determining thermal conditions in a pipeline
Hamad Alsaiari, Al-Khobar (SA); Ali Alshehri, Thuwal (SA); Ayman Amer, Thuwal (SA); and Ali Meshaikhis, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Jun. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/348,494.
Prior Publication US 2022/0397227 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. F16L 59/14 (2006.01); F16L 53/30 (2018.01); G01N 17/00 (2006.01); G01N 25/56 (2006.01); G01M 99/00 (2011.01)
CPC F16L 59/14 (2013.01) [F16L 53/30 (2018.01); G01N 17/006 (2013.01); G01N 25/56 (2013.01); G01M 99/002 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for determining a thermal condition of a pipeline, comprising:
identifying a pipeline that carries a fluid at a steady-state temperature, the pipeline comprising:
a tubular conduit that comprises a bore that carries the fluid, and
a layer of insulation installed over an exterior surface of the tubular conduit;
changing the steady-state temperature of the fluid by applying a thermal contrast to the pipeline;
based on changing the steady-state temperature, detecting a thermal gradient between the fluid carried in the bore and at least one of the tubular conduit or the layer of insulation at a particular location of the pipeline; and
based on the detected thermal gradient, determining a presence of at least one of water or water vapor between the exterior surface of the tubular conduit and the layer of insulation at the particular location of the pipeline.
 
16. A system, comprising:
a pipeline that carries a first fluid at a steady-state temperature, the pipeline comprising a tubular conduit that comprises a bore that carries the first fluid, and a layer of insulation installed over an exterior surface of the tubular conduit;
a second fluid configured to circulate to one of the layer of insulation or an exterior surface of the pipeline at a temperature sufficient to change the steady-state temperature of the first fluid; and
a thermal image detector configured to detect a thermal gradient between the first fluid carried in the bore and at least one of the tubular conduit or the layer of insulation at a particular location of the pipeline to indicate a presence of at least one of water or water vapor between the exterior surface of the tubular conduit and the layer of insulation at the particular location of the pipeline.